Elastic-fluid turbine.



R. H. RICE.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1916.

- 1,218,468. Patented Mar.6,1917.

invefitolt Richard H. Rice,

MASSACHUSETTS,

.5. CORPORATIQN OF IEW YORK.

T GENERAL ELECTRIQ ELASTIC-FLUKE TURBZIIE.

Application filed Uctohcr 13, 1815.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

lie

lm own that l, Brennan Rios, a a oi the United States, residing at Ly county or Essex, State Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful if "ients in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, oi

following is a specification.

sent invention relates to horizoncondensing elastic lluid turbines wherein the condenser has its casing bolted directlvto the turbine casing, and has for its object to e o' improved arrangement in an installation of this type.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to -the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

in the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a side elevation of a turbo-generator set embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the turbine and condenser end of the set; ig. 3 is a vertical section through one Fig. l is a longiof the condenser sections tudinal section on a line extending between the two condenser sections and through the center of the turbine, and Fig. 5 is an end view looking at the low pressure end of the turbine, the condenser being removed.

Referring to the drawing, indicates a horizontal elastic fluid turbine which, in the present instance, is shown as driving an elec tric ll. 12 indicates the turbine shaft upon which are mounted the wheels 13 carrying rows of buckets 14-. The turbine illustrated is'ot the impulse type and has four stages, there being a single wheel with two rows of buckets in the first stage, and a single wheel with one row of buckets in each of the other stages. The exhaust end .or" the turbine terminates in two rectangular openings l5 16, the argangement of which is best illustrated in Fig. 5. Between these openii is vertical wal 17 which carries l8 for the one end of the shaft 12.

indicate the other two shaft beartions 1 and 22, each having an admission opening 23 corresponding in size and shape to openings and 16. The two condenser sections 'are alike, one of them being shown in secti' Fig. 3. It comprises casing 2Q 5 ving its two ends the tube sheets 25 into econdenser tubes 28 are fastened. we ends of casing 2e the heads Specification of Letters Patent.

. down through the other.

Patented Mar. 6., 191.

Serial 1%. react/e.

7 an 28, the latter having a partition 29 whicl divides it into two chambers. Circulating water enters by opening 30, l'lows up through one group of the tubes 26, then and out by way oi opening 31. 32 indicates the conduits to which the air pump (not shown) is connected for withdrawing air, gases and vapor from the condenser, and the conduits to which the condensate pump (not shown) is connected. The condenser sections 21 and 22 are vertically arranged; i. 0., the tubes 26 are vertical, and the openings 15 and 16 in the turbine casing and the openings 23 in the condenser sections extend substantially the length of the tubes 26. This gives a path of large area for the elastic fluid exhausting from the turbine,-and since the condenser casings are bolted directly to the turbine casing, the path is a short one. In fact, as will be clear, the blades of the final wheel 13 revolve at but a short distance from the tubes 26. This means that there are practically no friction losses between the turbine and the condenser and that the pressure of the final stage of the machine is substantially that of the vacuum. This results in a better elliciency of the turbine and decreased losses in the condenser system. i

The turbine casing is connected to the generator 11 by a rigid frame 3%, and the unit as a whole is supported by a suitable support 35 arranged beneath the generator 11, and supporting members arranged beneath feet 86 carried by the condenser sections 21 and 22. Each condenser section has preferably two feet 36 one on each side as shown in Fig. 2, and 8? Fig. 2) indicates a common supporting member for the two feet which are adjacent each other. By this arrangement the turbine is suspended between the genera tor and the condenser.

38 indicates a speed governor and 39 indicates generally the valve gear for regulating the supply of elastic fluid to the turbine. it

will be understood that these parts'may be of any suitable structure.

By constructing the condenser in two sections, one located to each side of the center line of the machine, the bearing 18 can be lo cated between them and directly adjacent the turbine casing: This economizes in the overall length of the machine and requires that the sh be no longer than usual. At the same time, the bearing is readily accessible.

Also by the vertical arrangement of the condenser, the minimum amount of floor space sutihzed. This vertlcal arrangement also has the advantage that byremoving the upper heads of the condenser sections, the tubes can be removed vertically for inspection and repair. In power plants floor space is usually limited while there is plenty of over-head space. With this vertical arrangement no floor room need be provided for the removal of the condenser tubes, as is the case with the usual condenser in which the tubes are arranged horizontally. The installation accordingly will'occupy less floor space than would otherwise be the case.

lVhile I have shown the two condenser se etions cast separate from the turbine casing and fastened thereto, it will be understood that l am not limited to this arrangement but may if found desirable, cast the parts integral.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 have described the prin cipleof operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shownis only illustrative, and that the invention can; be carried out by other means.

l/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is:

l. The combination with a horizontal elastic fluid turbine having a casing, of a condenser therefor comprising two condenser sections fastened directly to the turbinecasing, said condenser sections having vertically arranged cooling tubes and being located one on each" side of the center line of the turbine.

2. The combination with a horizontal elastic fluid turbine having a casing and a shaft, of a condenser therefor comprising two condenser sectionsfastened directly to the turbine casing, said condenser sections having vertically arranged cooling tubes and being located one on each side of the center line of theturbine, and a bearing for the turbine shaft located between said sections.

3. The combination with a horizontal elastic fluid turbine having a casing, of a condensertherefor comprising two condenser sections fastened directly to the turbine casing, said condenser sections having vertically arranged cooling tubes and being located one on each side of the center line of the turbine, and supporting feet carried by the condenser sections.

.4. The combination with a horizontal elastic fluid turbine having a casing and a shaft, of a condenser therefor comprising two condenser sections fastened directly to the turbine casing, said condenser sections having vertically arranged cooling tubes and being located one on each side'of the center line of the turbine, a bearing for the shaft carried by the turbine casing and located between the condenser sections, and supporting feet for the turbine and condenser carried by the condenser sections;

ln witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, 1916.

RICHARD H. RICE. 

